The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-12


In addition, Bishop Keane, of Richmond,
and Bishop Ireland, of st. Paul, who are
both friendly to the knights, and who are
recognized at Rome as representing the
more progressive element In the American
hierarchy, arc with Cardinal Gibbons to
support him in the position which he takes.
Cardinal Gibbons is in position to speak
more intelligently Of the principles Of the
knights than any other churchman. Before
leaving for Rome he carefully examined the
manual of the order He also held q long
conference with Master Workman Pow
derby, whom he regards as q devout and
and conservative Catholic. His present
position is the result of his investigation
It is said in clerical circles that the knights
had powerful enemies within the Vatican.
Many of the Cardinals thought the order to
be Of character similar to the secret So
cieties of Italy and SPAN, and opposed it
for that reason.
The following is the Cardinals letter to
the Propaganda:
To His Eminence, Cardinal Simenoi, Prefect Of
the Holy Congregation OF the Propaganda
YOuR EMINENCE-In submitting to the Holy
See the conclusions which, after several months
Of observation and deep reflection, seem to me
TO sum up the question OF the association Of the
knights Of Labor, am strongly convinced Of
forms but one ring in the great chain OF the So
cial problem OF our day, and especially OF our
country. In Judging this question l have taken
great care to use us my constant guide the spirit
OF the encyclicals in which our Holy Father,
Pope Leo Kill, has SO admirably exposed the
dangers Of our time and their remedies, and has
explained the principles by which we shall be
guided IN distinguishing the associations con-
demned by the Holy See. Such, also were the
In its teachings about tho principle to be fol-
lowed and the dangers to be avoided by the
faithful In the formation OF associations toward
which the spirit Of our popular institutions so
strongly impcls. Considering the fatal consc-
quences that might result through an error in
the treatment OF the organizations. which often
OF thousands tht council wisely ordered that
when an association has spread into several
diocescs, no single Bishop OF those dioceses may
condemn 1t. but must refer the case to the per-
manent commission OF all the Archbishops Of
the United States, who in their turn nre not
authorized to issue condemnation, unless their
decision Is unanimous, and in default OF such
unanimity only the Holy See itself can impose
such condemnation, SO that error and con-
The commission OF Archbishops met toward
the end Of the month of October last to espe.
cinlly consider the association OF the knights
of Labor. We were not led to hold this moet-
ing by any request on the part Of the Bishops,
for none OF them did demand 1t, and 1t must be
added that Of all the Bishops only two or three
were known to desire the condemnation. But
the importance of the question III itself, and in
the estimation of the Holy See, nude US ex-
anime It with greatest care. After our discus
communicated to the Holy Congregation Of the
Propaganda, only two out OF twelve OF the
Archbishops voted for the condemnation-that
is to say, the Archbishop of ST. Louis and tho
Archbishop OF Santa Fe who followed suit-for
reasons which in no wav persuaded the others
uemnatiOn. In the considerations which fellow
wish to give in detail the reasons which de-
tcrinined the vote of the great majority Of the
commission, the truth and force OF which do not
scon to me less powerful to-day. At the same
time will try to do Justice to the arguments
advanced by the opposition party.
"A uhf fhf4rp yvpny hn H~n int fh<s
constitution. the bylaws and official declaration
of the knights Of Labor, certain assertions or
not ws be bs
Holy Sec SO clearly dcsignatcs rs condemna-
tory, and the formula OF their organization con-
tains neither oath nor obligation which pre-.
cludes those who do not belong to 1t, or evon
their enemies, from becoming acquainted
with their affairs. Catholics are not forbidden
cal authorities, oven outside Of the confessional
This hns been especially explained 70 us by their
officers, no promise Of blind obedience Is re.
Quired. The objects OF the association and its
rules ure well and distinctly established and
the obligations OF obedience do not trespass
their limits. Not only their object and the:r
but the very contrary. The third Plenary Coun.
Gil forbids thnt we should condemn any associa-
NJ
puts, No. s54). Their Master Workman, IN send
ing me copy OF their constitution, took occa
sion to say that he Processes his religion faith
fully and receives the sucraments regularly
that he belongs to no Masonic association or 70
any other otherwise condemned by the church
that he knows OF nothing in the society 0i
the knights OF Labor contrary to regulation
OF the church, and with filinl submission
he begs the pastors OF the church TO exam.
inc ell the details Of their organization, and
says II they find therein anything roprehensble
to point them out and he will faithfully promise
TO have the proper notifications made. AS
suredly this does not look like hostility toward
the authority of the church, but on the contra
ry,aperfectly laudably spirit;
After their convention In Richmond last yeaI
many Of their most Jealous officers and Catho
lie members made the same declarations re-
gnrding their sentiments: AS for the proceed
ings of the convention themselves (Which We
expect soon to reccive) we can no moro find
therein any hostility to the church to the laws
OF the land. Not only their constitution and
heads four civil authorities treat them and the
cause they represent with the greatest respect
The President Of the United States told me
der consideration law tending TO remedy Ger
tain social grievances. and that he had Just had
Msser Worman Of the Of
the subject. The Congress Of the United
States, following the advice of the President, Is
the condition Of the working cIass, the founda
tion for mnny Of whose complaints Is openly
acknowledged And the political parties, fur
try, vie with each other to obtain for them the
rights they are 30 clearly entitled to- for 1t is
fact wen known that the poor toilers have nc nc
land, II but simply 70 obtain equitable legisla.
tion by constitutional and legitimate means
And those considerations, which show that the
organization does not contain anv OF the Gle
ments which the Holy See condemns, bring US
face to face with tho evils the society Is com
batting and the real nature Of the conflict There
exist In our country, as In oil others, social
grievances which are grave and menacipg. pub
lie iniustices which nike require drm resist
ance and legal remedies, all OF which none
would gainsay, and the truth Of which has al
ready been admitted by Congress- md the Pros
dent OF the United States.
Without entering into the painful details oi
those wrongs-the present occasion not reQuir
ing it-tt will sut tce to mention the fact that
monOp0lies not Onl by individuals but cOrpor
ati0ns also, have already excited complaints
from the w0rkmen and opposition from public
men and national Legislators as well. That the
efforts OF those monopolists, net always unsuo
cessful to control Legislation for their own profit
cause great deal OF anxiety to the dsintercst
ed friends OF liberty; TINT their heurtless avar
brushes not only the workingmen representing
the various trades, but even the women and
the young children In their emplQy--makes II
plain 70 oil who love humanity and justice thai
not only has the workingmen got right TO or
ganixe for their own protection, hut thnt II Ii
the duty OF the public vt large to aid them In
finding remedy against the dangers with
which civilization and the social order nre
mcnnced by eyarice, oppression and corruption
No ono could truthfully deny the existence OF
these evils, tho right OF legitimate resistance
we could do would be TO doubt the Legitimacy oi
the means Of resistance employed and III the
remedies applied by tho knights Of Labor.